Tamper-evident cover sheet for multi-compartment article dispensing package

Abstract

A cover sheet for a multi-compartment package for dispensing plural items is disclosed. The package includes plural individual sealed compartment units which are releasably secured to each other. Each compartment unit includes a flanged base from which a chamber depends. The chamber holds an item to be dispensed and is surrounded by a flange. The cover sheet, includes respective closure members releasably secured to each other by frangible lines. Each closure member is configured to be adhesively secured to the flange of each compartment unit. Each closure member includes plural arcuate tamper-evident cuts therein located adjacent respective corners of the closure member to initiate a tear upon attempted removal of the closure member from the flange of its associated compartment unit.

We claim: 
     
       1. A cover sheet configured for securement to a base member having a plurality of individual compartment units releasably secured to one another and disposed in an array of plural rows and plural columns, each compartment unit comprising a flange and a chamber depending from the flange, the flange extending around the periphery of the chamber and having plural corners, the flanges being detachably connected along frangible separation lines intersecting the corners so that each compartment unit may be separated from the other compartment units, said cover sheet comprising:
 a top surface and an undersurface and comprising a plurality of closure members disposed in an array of plural rows and plural columns, each of said closure members including plural corners and being releasably secured to one another along frangible separation lines intersecting said corners of said closure members, said undersurface of said cover sheet being configured to be releasably secured to the flanges of the base member, whereupon said frangible separation lines of said cover sheet are coincident with the frangible separation lines of the base member and respective ones of said closure members are releasably secured to respective ones of the compartment units to form respective sealed compartment units; and 
 a plurality of tamper-evident cuts extending into said top surface of said cover sheet, each of said tamper-evident cuts being an arc having a portion directed toward a respective corner of said closure member and configured when said cover sheet is secured to the base member to initiate tearing of said closure member upon lifting of said closure member off an associated compartment unit at a corner located closely adjacent said tamper-evident cut. 
 
     
     
       2. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein each of said arcs comprises a rounded corner of a square or rectangle centered in each of said closure members. 
     
     
       3. The cover sheet of  claim 2 , wherein each of said arcs comprises an arc of a circle. 
     
     
       4. The cover sheet of  claim 3 , wherein each of said arcs is approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       5. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said undersurface has an adhesive thereon, said adhesive being configured to releasably secure said cover sheet to the base member. 
     
     
       6. The cover sheet of  claim 5 , wherein said undersurface of each of said closure members includes a liner patch configured to be disposed over an opening of the chamber. 
     
     
       7. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said cover sheet includes indicia thereon, said indicia being located at respective portions of said cover sheet corresponding to the location of said cut away or foldable tab corners of the compartment units when said cover sheet is secured thereto. 
     
     
       8. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein each of said closure members is of square shape. 
     
     
       9. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said upper top surface is formed of paper, and wherein said undersurface is a metal foil. 
     
     
       10. The cover sheet of  claim 9 , wherein said tamper-evident cuts extend at lea partially into said closure members from said top surface towards said undersurface. 
     
     
       11. The cover sheet of  claim 10 , wherein said tamper evident cuts extend fully through said closure members from said top surface to said undersurface. 
     
     
       12. The cover sheet of  claim 2 , wherein said undersurface of each of said closure members includes a liner patch configured to be disposed over an opening of the chamber. 
     
     
       13. The cover sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said upper top surface is formed of paper, a wherein said undersurface is a metal foil. 
     
     
       14. The cover sheet of  claim 13 , wherein said tamper-evident cuts extend at lea partially into said closure members from said top surface towards said undersurface. 
     
     
       15. The dispensing package of  claim 13 , wherein said tamper evident cuts extend fully through said closure members from said top surface to said undersurface.